Mailing system with postage value transfer and accounting capability

ABSTRACT

A mailing system for processing a batch of mail generates data representative of the total postage value of a batch of mail. The total postal value is debited from a descending register such that proof of the total postal value debited can be printed.

RELATED CASES

Subject matter similar to the subject matter contained

instant application may be found in copending U.S. patent applicationsentitled "POSTAGE AND MAILING INFORMATION APPLYING SYSTEM" by RonaldSansone and et al, filed Aug. 6, 1985, having Ser. No. 762,994; "PostageAccounting Device" by Ronald Sansone, et al, filed Dec. 26, 1985, havingSer. No. 813,443; and "BATCH MAILING SYSTEM" by Ronald Sansone, et al,filed Dec. 26, 1985, having Ser. No. 813,445; all assigned to theassignee of the instant application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain organizations dispatch large amounts of mail, usually on aperiodic schedule. Examples of such organizations are: bankinginstitutions, utility companies, insurance companies, credit companies,and the like. With such large quantities, these mailers normallypre-package and pre-sort their mail and, as a result, are given a lowerpostage rate by the postal service because of the time saved by thepostal service. There are generally two ways in which such mail sendersapply postage to their mail. The more common way is by use of a postagemeter that is leased by the mail sender from a postage metermanufacturer with which the amount of postage required is applied toeach mail piece. Inserter systems have been developed whereby insertsmay be placed into an envelope, the envelope may be sealed, addressedand have a postage indicia applied thereto. The mail pieces may beweighed on the fly or individual weighing may not be required if all themail pieces are of like kind, i.e., only a sample mail piece need beweighed. These acts of processing mail may be performed at a relativelyhigh rate of speed.

A second method of mailing large quantities of mail pieces is the permitmail system. In such a system, the mail sender places a permit number onthe mail pieces and prepares a manifest listing that shows the type andnumber of mail pieces being mailed on each occasion and the postagerequired.

With both such systems, inspection at the site of the mail sender isrequired. In the case of the postage meter, the lessor of the postagemeter, i.e., the postage meter manufacturer, is required by law toinspect the postage meter at least twice a year to ensure there is noevidence of tampering with the postage meter that will indicate anattempt to obtain unauthorized postage. In the case of permit mail,large quantities of the same type of mail will be mailed at one time andthe postal service will conduct an inspection to verify that themanifest listing accompanying the permit mail accurately accounts forthe amount of postage due for the mail that has been processed by thepostal service. This is accomplished through an inspection, on the partof the postal service of the records of the mail sender on everyoccasion.

Obviously, each of these two systems has certain drawbacks. In the caseof on-site inspection of postage meters, with the large number ofpostage meters in use by large mail senders it is an expensive matterfor the inspection thereof. Furthermore, postage meters that processlarge quantities of mail must be replaced frequently because of wear.With regard to the permit mail system, the shortcoming lies in the needof the postal service to send a representative frequently to the variousmail sender locations to assure that the mail sender is accuratelyaccounting for the quantity of mail being sent. Such a scheme is nottotally reliable as is relies upon on-site verification using the mailsenders records which are not secure.

Systems have been developed and are presently in commercial use for thetransfer of funds from one meter being taken out of service to anothermeter being placed in service. This may occur when one meter is beingremoved from service and another meter is being installed in its place.For example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,745, the replacementmay be to accommodate a change in models or replacement of aninoperative meter. Under existing commercial practice both meters areconcurrently taken to the Post Office to effect: removal of one meterfrom service, installation of the new meter into service, and transferof unused postage to the new meter.

The exchange of funds is currently accomplished as follows: A postalworker phones a data center, such as the Pitney Bowes Meter ResettingData Center and (a) requests the meter replacement function (b) providesthe customer account number, (c) provides the serial number of the meterbeing removed and (d) provides the serial number of the meter beinginstalled.

For the meter being removed under the current practice, the postalworker also provides to the data center (a) an access code generated bythe meter (b) the meter ascending register value (as displayed on themeter display) and (c) the meter descending register value (as displayedby the meter). The worker receives from the data center and records acombination provided by the data center such as a four digitcombination.

The postal worker, for the meter being installed, provides to the datacenter (a) an access code generated by the meter to be installed such asis disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,442,501 (b) the ascending register value(as displayed by the meter display) and (c) the descending registervalue (as displayed by the meter). The worker then receives from thedata center and records a reset combination such as a digit resetcombination to recharge the meter.

The postal worker clears the descending register of the meter beingremoved from service by entering the received and recorded resetcombination from the data center. The postal worker then resets thereplacement meter by entering the amount of reset as issued by the datacenter including both the amount of the reset and the reset combination.

It should be noted that one meter suitable for being reset in accordancewith the above procedure is shown and described in U.S. Pat. No.4,301,507 which is suitable for use in a variable amount rechargingsystem such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,097,923.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

A system has been conceived whereby a mail sender will be able to sendlarge quantities, or batches, of mail without the need of on-siteinspections. This is accomplished by the mail sender having a secureaccounting unit similar to a postage meter in which postage value isplaced by a dispensing or central station. A statement accompanies eachbatch of mail which statement may include information relative to themail and the amount of postage required to send the mail and the amountof postage value remaining with the mail sender. Communication betweenthe central station and the mail sender allows postage value to betransferred to and from the mail sender by the central station andmailing and verification data to be sent to the central station from themail sender. The mailing and verification data will be the same as thatcontained on the mailing statements that accompany the batches of mail.This system provides a central station for a large number of mailsenders whereby the postal service is relieved of its obligation ofhaving on-site inspections and the central station acts as a clearinghouse for the postal service through whom verification of postage can beconveniently and inexpensively achieved.

Another feature of the instant invention is that the amount of postagevalue remaining in the account of the mail sender is printed upon eachstatement accompanying mail batches. This provides a permanent record ofthe postage value held by the mail sender.

Still another feature of the instant invention is the postage valuepurchased by the mail sender may be returned to the central station andthe mail sender will receive credit for the same.

A further feature of this invention is that the security features of apostage meter are provided while allowing a high speed, relativelyinexpensive printer to be used for printing the mail pieces.

A further feature of the present invention is that postage value can betransferred from one meter to another at a user location without theneed to remove the meter to a secure environment such as a Post Officefacility.

Yet another feature of the present invention is the provision of apostage meter like device including enhanced security capability toenable the generation of unique authorization codes and/or encryptedcombinations to be provided to a data center as evidence of the charging(such as zeroing) of the descending registers of the device to beremoved from service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a batch mailing system;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an accounting statement that would accompanybatch mail sent by the system of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an envelope containing information that wouldbe applied thereto by the system of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4-6 contain flow diagrams that describe the functions of thesystem shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, a batch mailing system is shown generally at 10and includes a post office 12, a data center or central station 14 and auser location 16. The central station 14 has a processor 18. Thisprocessor 18 could be a main frame type of computer having substantialcapacity. Communication is provided between the post office 12 and aplurality of central stations 14 (only one being shown) through a lineor communication link 19 having a communication device such as atelephone 20 therein. Associated with the processor 18 and in connectiontherewith is a large storage memory unit 22 where large amounts of datacan be stored and a register setting device 23 which includes encryptionsoftware of the type required in the resetting of postage metersremotely. Systems for the resetting of meters remotely are well known,see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,792,446, 4,097,923 and 4,447,890.

A remote user location 16 has a secure accounting unit 25 which willhereafter be referred to as a "server". The server 25 is supplied by thecentral station 14 to the user and includes a user processor 24 whichmay be a processor of much smaller capacity such as an Intel 8085processor available from Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif.Connected to the processor 24 is a memory 26. Preferably the memory 26will be a non-volatile memory (NVM). The user processor 24 is connectedto the central station processor 18 through a communication link or line28. A telephone 30 or other communicating device may be disposed withinthe line 28 to thereby provide selective communication between theprocessors 18, 24. Also connected to the processor 24 are a RAM 32, aROM 34, an encryptor 35 and a clock 36 whose respective functions willbe described in detail hereinafter. An input/processor 38 is connectedto the user processor 24 whereby data may be supplied, either manuallyor through a medium such as a disc or tape, to the user processor forthe purpose of providing data required in the processing of mail pieces.

The server 25 has many characteristics of a postage meter as well asdifferences that will be discussed hereinafter. Postage meters are massproduced devices for printing a defined unit value for governmental orprivate carrier delivery of parcels and envelopes. The term postagemeter also includes other like devices which provide unit value printingsuch as tax stamp meters. Postage meters include internal accountingdevices which account for postage value representation which is storedwithin the meter. The accounting device accounts for both the rechargingof the meter with additional postage value and the printing of postageby the meter printing mechanism. No external independent accountingsystem is available for accounting for the postage printed by the meter.Accordingly, postage meters must possess a high reliability to avoid theloss of user or governmental funds stored within the meter and dispensedby printing postage.

A high speed inserter 39 is in electrical communication with the server25 and performs the physical acts involved in processing the mail suchas the insertion of inserts into envelopes, sealing the envelope flaps,orienting the mail pieces, and conveying the mail pieces to a postagemeter or printer 40. The term "insert" includes bills, advertisingmaterials, notices, etc., which are of a size to be received within anenvelope or the like. High speed inserters of this type are readilyavailable commercially, as for example Inserter model No. 3100 seriesfrom Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, Conn.

A first printer 40 is in communication with the user processor 24 of theserver 25 and with the input/processor 38 and is able to print upon mailpieces 42 such as envelopes containing inserts which it receives fromthe inserter 39. This printer 40 is one provided by the user and will bean unsecured, high speed printer which may be controlled either throughthe processor 24 or input/processor 38. A second printer 44 is providedto print upon a statement sheet 46 or other document. This secondprinter 44 is preferably a secure printer that is provided by thecentral station 14. Obviously, the second printer 44 can be an unsecuredprinter but this occasions greater risk in terms of verifying payment ofmail. Throughout the balance of the specification and claims thisstatement sheet 46 will be referred to as a "passport". Details of thepassport 46 will be described hereinafter in conjunction with FIG. 2.

Although only one user location 16 is shown and described, it will beappreciated many user locations will be serviced by the one centralstation 14 as for example through multiplexing. The central station 14may be the location of a postage meter manufacturer or other accountableorganization.

In operation, the user at the user location 16 will be given aidentification number by the central station 14 that will be placed inthe NVM 26 of the server 25. This identification number will bepermanent and unique for each server 25 and the user will have no accessto that portion of the NVM 26 that stores the identification number. Itwill be appreciated that this feature may be applied to postage metersas well. Having the identification number in memory 26 eliminates theneed of having a plate applied to a postage meter or a server 25. Itwill be appreciated that a server 25 has many characteristics of apostage meter, i.e., security, a descending register and the like, butcertain elements are absent. The most evident absent element is aprinter, the advantage of which is described throughout. Another absentmember is an ascending register. In a postage meter an ascendingregister is ascessable only by a service representative of the metermanufacturer and may be used to determine if any meter tampering hastaken place. Following installation of the identification number, theuser will communicate with the central station 14 through the telephone30 for the purpose of indicating to the central station the amount ofpostage value it wishes to have accredited to its memory 26. An accesscode will be given to the user that is addressed to the setting device23 through the touch dial of the telephone 30, upon the receipt of theaccess code, the user will transmit to the central station 14 the propercode and identification number. The setting device 23 will function tosupply or increase the postage value in the memory 26. This memory 26will include a descending register. which is charged by the centralstation 14 with the selected amount of postage value. As the userlocation 16 processes mail, the postage value in the descending registerwill be decreased in accordance with the postage required to process themail pieces. Devices for charging registers such as the descendingregisters are well known, as for example see U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,792,446,4,097,923 and 4,447,890.

The balance of the server 25 includes the ROM 34 that containsinformation which formats address signals and stores a series ofprograms for controlling the functions of the server 25, a RAM 32 thatwill hold and supply real time data, a clock 36 that will provide thetime and date and an encryptor 35 that will store the code required forthe descending register setting functions. The encryptor 35 can be anyone of a number of encrypting devices including devices which use theData Encryption Standards described in FIPS P4B 46, dated Jan. 15, 1977and published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau ofStandards.

It will be appreciated that the printer 40 is a high speed, unsecuredprinter such as a ink jet printer or laser printer which will apply theaddresses of the addressee and addressor to the face of the mail piecesunder command of the input/processor 38 in cooperation with the server25. In addition, other information can be printed by the printer 40 uponeach mail piece 42 when under command of the processor 24. Thisinformation includes a transaction number (T.A. No.), the run of theparticular batch of mail, the date and time of mailing, the class ofmail and a batch number. The transaction number is that number assignedto the user location by the central station every time postage value isadded to the server 25 and will be stored in the NVM 26. Thistransaction number will be the same for one or more batches of mail thatare sent and will remain unchanged until such time as the descendingregister of the NVM 26 is recharged with postage value, at which time anew transaction number will be assigned and stored in the NVM in placeof the preceding transaction number. By changing the transaction numberupon each recharge, an element is provided for verifying postage. Thebatch number is one assigned by the user through the input/processor 38whereby a given batch of mail, i.e., mail of a particular type orcharacter, will be identified by a number assigned by the user. Inaddition, a run number, which is a subset of the batch, may be given toidentify particular segments of the batch.

When a batch of mail is to be sent, the user will supply mailing andverification information through the input/processor 38 into the userprocessor 24 which will transmit at least a portion of this informationto the inserter 39. This information would include the number of mailpieces to be processed and number of inserts to be placed in eachenvelope. The time and date may be supplied to the printer 40 throughthe input/processor 38 by overriding the clocks 36. This is useful whenfuture mail is being processed. The user processor 24 will then commandthe printer 40 to print the appropriate postage, time, date, transactionnumber and address on the mail pieces for a particular run. This runwill be given a number that is associated with the particular mail to besent, which number will be printed on the envelopes 42 of that run. Asthe printer prints the appropriate information upon each mail piece, thenumber of mail pieces and amount of postage required will be determinedby the processor 24. At the end of the run or batch, the second printer44 will print required information upon a passport 46.

As was stated previously, the data input to the server 25 may beaccomplished manually or by tape or disc through the input/processor 38.Another way of inputting data to the server 25 would be through the useof an optical scanner 48 capable of reading and decoding bar codes. Suchscanners are well known, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,778,597 and arecommercially available. The envelopes 42 may be windowed envelopeshaving inserts with pre-printed bar codes. These bar codes may bepre-printed by the printer 40 through direct communication with theinput/processor 38 or any other printer as desired. The bar codes wouldcontain information on the weight of each mail piece the date the mailis to be processed and the zip code, all of which information is knownto the mail sender in advance. Upon scanning the bar codes, the scannerwould input the bar code information to the processor 24 to occasionprinting of the postage, date and zip code.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the passport 46 is shown after having printedthereon the total postage (Post. Total) required to mail the batch ofmail, the transaction number, piece count for a batch, descendingregister amount (Reg. Am.) after subtraction for the postage, the date,the time, the class, the batch number and the run. Additionally, theserver identification number stored in the NVM 26, user name and anydesired graphics can be printed. This information on the passport 46serves many purposes. Firstly, the register amount acts as a physicalrecord of the postage value stored in the descending register of the NVM26. This amount is printed on the passport 46 on the upper right hand.The register amount will be that amount in the descending register afterall postal charges have been made for the batch of mail to be sent. Byplacing this register amount on the passport 46 after the mailing ofeach batch, an ongoing, permanent record is maintained of the amount ofpostage value contained within the NVM 26. In this way, if there is adisaster wherein the server 25 is destroyed or the memory 26 therein iserased inadvertently, the user will still have a means for verifying theamount of postage value remaining from that amount of postage valueoriginally purchased and stored. It should be expressly recognized thatthe printing of the descending register value has applicability beyondthe concept of printing the descending value on passport after a groupof mail has been processed. Specifically, it is within the scope of thepresent invention that the server, as well as postage meters in general,can be conditioned to print the value of the descending register, andany other data of interest such as the date and time of the day, aftereach imprint is generated. Thus, the present concept of printing thedescending register value and other information of significance can beincorporated in servers 25 or postage meters without the use of otheraspects of the present invention. The transaction number provides anauthorization check as does the identification or server number. Bychanging the transaction number with each recharge of the server, onecan readily determine if more postage accompanies a transaction numberthan is authorized. Also printed on the passport 46 will be the date andtime the passport 46 is printed, the piece count, i.e., the number ofmail pieces mailed in the particular batch, and the class of mail. Uponthe printing of the information on the passport 46, the postage amountfor the batch will be subtracted from the descending register in the NVM26.

The information printed upon the passport 46 is transmitted to thecentral station 14 through the communication line 28 automatically aftereach batch is processed so that a record is maintained through theprocessor 18 that communicates with memory 22. The memory 22 has anascending register therein that corresponds to the descending registerin the server 25, i.e., one is the inverse of the other. As is known, anascending register is one that accumulates charges over a long term.Optionally, the memory 22 may have a descending register that duplicatesthe amounts in the descending register in the NVM on an ongoing basis.By having the postage value contained within the memory 22 thatcorresponds to the value of the server 25, a check is constantly made toensure that there is a correspondence between the passport 46information and the amount of postage paid by the user. Morespecifically, the total amount credited to the user location will bestored in memory 22 and if the amount in the ascending register exceedsthat total amount the user location will be notified that there areinsufficient funds. When a batch of mail is sent to a post office, thepassport 46 for that particular batch will accompany the mail. Thepostal employee can determine whether it is an authorized transmissionof mail from the information contained upon the accompanying passport46. If there is any question of the part of the postal service as towhether the information is authentic, the postal service will contactthe central station 14 and through the line 19 obtain the informationfrom the central station 14 to verify the information contained on thepassport 46. If this information is accurate, then the postal servicewill know that the mail is authorized, i.e., the postage for the mailhas been paid. On the other hand, if there is any discrepancy, thepostal service is able to act to ferret any fraud or correct anydiscrepancy. As is the usual practice in the user of postage meters, auser location 16 will send all its mail to an assigned post office.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an envelope 42 is shown as it would be preparedby the present system 10. In the upper left hand corner is the addressof the mail sender and the upper right hand corner a statement thatindicates the class of mail and gives the identification or servernumber of the mail sender. This information may be preprinted on theenvelopes 42 prior to processing of a batch. Such preprinting may beaccomplished through interaction of the input/process or 38 in directcommunication with the printer 44 without any participation of the othercomponents of the user station 16.

In the processing of the batch mail the three address lines will firstbe printed with the name of the recipient, the street address then thecity, state, zip code. The fourth line is then printed throughinformation supplied by the processor 24 and this postage line, includesthe postage amount $0.22, the date, Oct. 8, 1985 and the transactionnumber which in this case is C2J2743T56. Other information may be givenon this postage line if so desired including the time the mail isprocessed. Although the postage line is shown in alpha-numerics it willbe appreciated that the same may be printed in bar code and, optionally,bar code information may be printed on the envelope as desired.

Although an envelope 42 is shown that has the information printed on theface thereof the same scheme will apply to a windowed envelope. In awindowed envelope it may be preprinted as previously described butinstead of the printer 40 printing on the face of the envelope 42 aninsert would be printed with the information shown on the face of theenvelope 42 and inserted so as to be viewed from the window.

In this way what is provided is a method of allowing an organization tosend large amounts of mail without having to frank every piece. Inaddition, the postal service is saved the problem of requiring on-siteinspections at the user location 16 in order to verify that nounauthorized mail is being sent. By correlating the amount of postage,the transaction number, piece count, registration amount and the like,verification can be made without the need of encryption. The centralstation more or less acts as a bank representing the postal service andhandles the funds on its behalf as well as maintains records forverification. The funds or postage value charged to the server 25 may beeither pre-paid or charged to the user by the central station on acredit arrangement. The central station would be accountable to thepostal service for the postage value placed in the server on a immediatebasis.

Another advantage of this system is that the printer 40 that prints thelarge numbers of mail pieces is not part of the security member, i.e.,the server 25, as in the case of a postage meter. Because of this, theprinter may be replaced frequently without the expense or inconvenienceof entire replacement. It will be appreciated that one printer may beused in place of the two printers 40, 44 shown and described, but thepreferred embodiment contemplates the use of two printers for thereasons given.

The present invention provides enhanced security that enables thetransfer of funds from one meter to another meter at a user location 16.Heretofore all such transfers in postage meters, because of securityrequirements and postal regulations, have been effectuated under thesupervision of a postal worker. Because of this, significant increasedcost is added to the system in that both a meter to be taken out ofservice and a new meter to be put into service must be physicallytransported to the postal authorities facility. Under existingprocedures, and practices, the postage meter manufacturer sends aservice representative to the user location who physically collects themeter and takes it to the Post Office along with a new meter to berecharged. At the Post Office, the postal worker accesses the datacenter to decrement the old meter descending register and to incrementthe descending register of the new meter. Thereafter, the postage metermanufacturer service representative transports the new meter to thecustomer and the old meter to the manufacturer. This inconveniences theuser by the removal of the meter from the user's facility, increases thecost by the necessity to transport the meter to the Post Office andincreases the cost by requiring the participation of the postage metermanufacturer service representative (who transports the two meters) aswell as the postal worker.

The server 25 or meter constructed in accordance with the presentinvention provides enhanced security that avoids the above notedshortcomings and enables the transfer of funds at a user location 16.The system provides a level of security previously not available suchthat the central station 14, which may be a postage meter manufactureservice representative, alone may effectuate the transfer. Moreover, ifadequate directions are provided, the transfer of funds may beeffectuated by the user alone, without the assistance of the centralstation 14. The new server 25 or meter can be delivered to the user by aparcel delivery service and the old server 25 can be returned by aparcel delivery service to the central station or postal authorities.

The server 25 or meter has a unique routine which generates a uniqueand/or encrypted combination which is provided to the data center toverify and thereby provide proof that the descending register of themeter to be taken out of service has been appropriately changed, suchas, to zero. This routine ensures that the combination provided by thecentral station to decrement the descending register was, in fact,entered into the meter. It should be recognized that the meterdescending register can be changed to any value, not only to zero. Thus,altered postage value can be added to or taken out of the registers ofthe meter.

The procedure for removing the old meter from service and transferringthe funds is as follows: the user contacts the central station 14 andrequests the meter replacement function. This is the function at thecentral station 14 associated with transferring funds from one server 25or meter to another. The user provides sufficient identification as tothe server 25 or meter. This can include the user identification number,the server 25 or meter serial number being removed from service as wellas the serial number of the device being newly installed. For the server25 or meter being removed from service, the user provides data includingan access code to demonstrate that the user in fact has physical accessto the server or meter whose descending register is to be decremented.In response to this information, the central station provides a uniquecombination which, when entered into the server 25 or meter willdecrement the descending register to zero, or to any other valueselected. It should be noted that embedded in this combination can bedata relating to the time, date or other relevant factors such as zipcode, location of the user and the like.

The combination upon being entered into the meter, decrements thedescending register thereof as previously noted and, additionally,provides data which is used as the input in conjunction with thedecrementing of the descending register postage value to a uniqueroutine associated with the server 25 or meter. If, for example, adescending register value of zero funds is represented by the number 10,the number 10 in conjunction with the entered combination can be passedthrough a function as for example, the function disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 4,097,923 and additionally passed through an encryption module 35such as a data encryption standard (DES) type of module to generate anencrypted unique number. Additionally provided as input data to theunique routine is the date and time thus, the encrypted new uniquecombination generated by the server 25 or meter includes dataindicating: (i) that the register has been decremented, (ii) the time ofday and date of the decrementing of the register. and, again, ifdesired, (iii) the exact combination entered to decrement the descendingregister. It is expressly recognized that various alternativecombinations of data can be included to provide the input data to theroutine depending on the needs and desires of the particular postalservice.

The unique combination, which may also be encrypted, when generated isdisplayable upon the display of the input/processor 38 and/or otherassociated display. This information is communicated back to the centralstation 14. If the server 25 or meter is equipped with communicationfacilities, the communications transaction can be automaticallyeffectuated without the need for human intervention.

The central station 16 processes the received combination to decrypt andthereafter restore the data to ensure (i) the register of the server 25or meter to be taken out of service has been decremented as requiredand, if a clock function is provided, (ii) that the decrementing of theregister occurs within a prescribed period of the issuance of thedecrementing combination. Again, additional functions and checks can beprovided depending on the needs and desires of the particular postalservice involved. On such verification, the central station 14 generatesand provides to the user the new reset combination for the transfer ofpostage value. The user thereafter enters the new reset combination intothe new server 25 or meter in accordance with the previously describedfunctions. If it is desired, for security or other reasons, again, thetransaction number can be generated and displayed to verify that the newserver 25 or meter has in fact been reset with postage funds.Simultaneously, the central station 14 can generate the necessaryreporting to the postal service indicating the fact that the fundstransfer has been effectuated so that the postal service can expect thereturn of the server 25 or meter being taken out of service.

What is claimed is:
 1. A mailing system, comprising:a processor; means,in communication with said processor, for storing postage value; means,in communication with said processor, for generating postage value datarelating to a stream of mail pieces; means, in communication with saidprocessor, for debiting the postage value of said stream of mail piecesfrom said postage value storing means; and means for generating datarepresentative of the total postage value of said stream of mail piecesto provide proof of said debiting.
 2. A system as defined in claim 1wherein said proof of debiting comprises: an imprint, said imprintevidencing the decrementing of said postal value storage means by anamount equal to said postal value of said stream of mail pieces.
 3. Asystem as defined in claim 2 wherein said postal value data generationmeans comprises: means for printing information relating to the identityof and postage value for each mail piece of said stream of mail pieces.4. A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said data printed by saidprinting means includes a unique number printed on each said mail pieceand data relating to the postage required for each of said mail pieces.5. A system defined in claim 4 wherein said data printed by saidprinting means further includes data relating to the total of postagedue for said stream of mail pieces.
 6. A system as defined in claim 5wherein said proof of debiting means includes a secure accounting means,said secure accounting means including at least one register foraccounting for postage.
 7. A system as defined in claim 6 wherein saidregister is a descending register.
 8. A system as defined in claim 1wherein said proof of debiting means further includes means for printingpostage, said postage printing means being coupled to said secureaccounting means.
 9. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said postageprinting means is enclosed within a secure housing, said secure housingproviding physical security for said secure accounting means.
 10. Asystem as defined in claim 8 wherein said postage printing means is anunsecure printer interconnected to said secure accounting means forprinting evidence of the authenticity of an imprint printed by saidpostage printing means.
 11. A system as defined in claim 10 wherein saidevidence of authenticity includes encrypted data printed by saidunsecure printing means.
 12. A system as defined in claim 8 furthercomprising a data center, said data center having means for storing datarelated to said stream of mail pieces and data relating to said proof ofdebiting.
 13. A sytem as defined in claim 12 wherein said data centerrecords data relating to the value of said descending register.
 14. Asystem as defined in claim 13 wherein said data center records datarelating to the value of said descending register at the conclusion ofthe processing of each said stream of the mail pieces.
 15. In a postagedevice of the type including a descending register for storing postagevalue available to be dispensed, the improvement comprising:means forprinting postage value; and, means, communicating with said printingmeans, for causing said printing means to print an aggregate postagevalue up to the amount stored by said descending register available tobe dispensed to provide proof of debiting from said descending registerfor a series of mail pieces.
 16. A postage device as defined in claim 15wherein said causing means enables said printing means to print postagevalue on a mail piece.
 17. A postage device as defined in claim 15wherein said causing means enables said printing means to print apostage value on a tape to be applied to a mail piece.
 18. A postagedevice as defined in claim 15 wherein said causing means enables saidprinting means to print postage value on a summary sheet.
 19. A postagedevice as defined in claim 15 wherein said print causing means enablessaid printing means to print the value available to be dispensed storedin said descending register after said descending register is reduced bythe amount of postage value equal to said aggregate printed postagevalue.
 20. A postage device as defined in claim 15 wherein said printingmeans prints the time of day and date that said descending registervalue was printed.
 21. A postage device as defined in claim 15 whereinsaid printing means further prints a unique transaction numberassociated with a series of mail pieces.
 22. A method of transmittingpostage value, the steps comprising:storing postage value in a firstmemory, transferring at least a portion of said postage value to asecond memory at a user location, applying postage to mail pieces,reducing said postage value stored in said second memory, andtransferring at least a portion of said postage value in said secondmemory to a third memory at a user location.
 23. A postage device of thetype having means for processing data including a descending registerfor storing an amount of postage value available to be dispensed, saiddevice comprising:means for entering a unique number issued from a datacenter into said postage device, said unique number having been enteredinto said postage device, providing data for said data processing meansto change the current postage value stored in said device to a differentlower postage value; means for displaying data processed by saidprocessing means; and means for generating a unique combination suitableto be provided to said data center and displayable on said data displaymeans, said unique combination providing an indication that a change inthe value of postage stored in said descending register to saiddifferent value has occurred.
 24. A device as defined in claim 23wherein said unique combination is an encrypted number.
 25. A device asdefined in claim 23 wherein said unique combination includes datarelating to the postage value stored in said descending register and thetime said unique combination was generated.
 26. A device as defined inclaim 25 wherein said data center decrypts said unique combination toverify that said postal value stored in said descending register hasbeen changed.
 27. A device as defined in claim 26 wherein said datacenter processes said data to determine that said descending registerhas been charged within a predetermined time of said unique numberhaving been issued by said data center.
 28. A method of transferringpostal funds to a postage device, said method comprising the stepsof:establishing communication with a central station, said centralstation monitoring the amount of postage stored in said postage device;providing said central station with information regarding a requestedchange to reduce the amount of postage value available in said postagedevice and a unique identification concerning said postage device;receiving from said central station and entering into said postagedevice a first unique code, said entry being operative to reduce theamount of postage value stored in said postage device in accordance withsaid request; and generating in said postage device a second unique codeif the said first unique code has been entered into said postage device,said second unique code providing an indication that said postage valueavailable for printing postage in said postage device has been reduced.29. The method of claim 28 further comprises the step of:transmittingsaid second unique code to said central station.
 30. The method of claim28 further comprising the step of: changing, upon receiving said secondunique code, the amount of postage value credited to said postage deviceby an amount equal to said change of postage value available forprinting in said postage device.
 31. The method as defined in claim 30wherein said central station generates a third unique code to be enteredinto another postage device to increase the amount of funds storedtherein by an amount equal to or less than the reduction of funds storedin said postage device.
 32. The method as defined in claim 31 whereinsaid third unique code generated by said central station is transmittedfor entry into said another postage device to recharge said anotherpostage device with additional postage value available for printingpostage.
 33. In postage device of the type including a descendingregister for storing postage value remaining to be printed, theimprovement comprising:printing means, and means for coupled to saidprinting means for causing said printing means to be operable to printthe value of postage value stored by said descending register andavailable to be dispensed wherein said causing means enables saidpostage printing means to print an aggregate postage value for a seriesof mail pieces and wherein said means coupled to said printing meansoperates said printing means coupled to said printing means operatessaid printing means to print the value stored in said descendingregister and available to be dispensed after said register is reduced byamount of postage equal to said aggregate printing value.